Function control circuit for EDM power supply

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling an electrical discharge machining apparatus wherein the system is rendered responsive to an electrical gap parameter such as gap current or gap voltage level. Included in the system for responding to gap condition is a sensing circuit which includes a light-emissive device connected in circuit with the gap or with other essential operating elements such that there is provided a light output of an intensity proportional to gap current or voltage. A second light responsive device, such as a phototransistor or photo diode, is used to convert the light signal into an electrical control signal, which signal in turn is utilized in a function control for the electrical discharge apparatus. The function control exercised may include machining power pulse on-time and off-time control, interruption of machining power responsive to gap short circuit condition, servo feed by providing relative movement of controllable speed and direction between a tool electrode and the workpiece for regulating the gap width, and interruption of the power for the power supply in order to protect against gap short circuit condition arising from failure of an essential switching element in the EDM power supply such as one of the output electronic switches.

United States Patent [1 1 Bell, Jr.

[451 Dec. 16, 1975 FUNCTION CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR EDM POWER SUPPLY [75] Inventor: Oliver A. Bell, Jr., Mooresville,

[73] Assignee: Colt Industries Operating Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 448,351

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 251,352, May 8, 1972, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. Cl. 219/69 C; 219/69 G [51] Int. Cl. B23? 1/08 [58] Field of Search..... 219/69 R, 69 C, 69 G, 69 S,

[56] References Cited Primary Examiner-Bruce A. Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firin-l-lauke, Patalidis & Dumont 57 ABSTRACT A system for controlling an electrical discharge machining apparatus wherein the system is rendered responsive to an electrical gap parameter such as gap current or gap voltage level. Included in the system for responding to gap condition is a sensing circuit which includes a light-emissive device connected in circuit with the gap or with other essential operating elements such that there is provided a light output of an intensity proportional to gap current or voltage. A second light responsive device, such as a phototransistor or photo diode, is used to convert the light signal into an electrical control signal, which signal in turn is utilized in a function control for the electrical discharge apparatus. The function control exercised may include machining power pulse on-time and off-time control, interruption of machining power responsive to gap short circuit condition, servo feed by providing relative movement of controllable speed and direction between a tool electrode and the workpiece for regulating the gap width, and interruption of the power for the power supply in order to protect against gap short circuit condition arising from failure of an essential switching element in the EDM power supply such as one of the output electronic switches.

20Claims, 9 Drawing Figures a A flllinr-til 4 2 5;. Z I' v ,5 L a /F/ -2 U.S. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet3 of4 3,927,293

Sheet 4 of 4 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 FUNCTION CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR'EDM POWER SUPPLY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a divisional application of Serial No. 251,352, filed May 8, 1972, for Function Control Circuit for EDM Power Supply in my name and assigned to Colt Industries Operating Corp, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,713.

Reference is made to my U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,969 issued Dec. 12, 1972 for Cut-Off Protection System for EDM Power Supply and to U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,719 issued Oct. 12, 1972 for Pulse Narrowing and Cut-Off Protection System for Electrical Discharge Machining, both of which applications are of common ownership herewith. The present invention represents an improvement with respect to the pulse narrowing control circuit illustrated therein particularly with respect to the type of gap voltage sensing network used and the resultant protection system provided.

Reference is also made to my U.S. Pat. No.

- 3,727,024 issued Apr. 10, 1973 for Electrical Discharge Machining Servo Control System which application is of common ownership herewith. The present application includes as one species of the invention an improved gap voltage sensing network for controlling servo feed with reference to gap voltage level.

Reference is further made to my U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,826 issued July 17, 1973 for Short-Circuit Prot'ection System for EDM PowerrSupply Apparatus. The present invention includes one'species which relates toa short circuit protection system in which the presently disclosed sensing circuit provides an alternate method to that disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The electrical discharge machining art has advanced from the early stages in which relaxation oscillators were used to provide machining power pulses to the gap for eroding portions of an electrically conductive workpiece in the pattern of a tool electrode. Independently timed and controlled pulse generators are now 4 almost universally used and in these generators the electronic switches employed are now generally in the form of solid state switches particularly transistors. In the electrical discharge machining process, it is necessary as the workpiece material is removed that a predetermined gap be maintained between the tool electrodes and the workpiece through an automatic servo feed system which provides a continuous advance into and toward the workpiece as the material removal progresses. During the electrical discharge machining process, a fluid coolant, generally a liquid, is circulated through the machining gap to flush the workpiece particles from the gap. The coolant is usually furnished under pressure by a pump through one or more holes provided in the electrode. One necessary and defining characteristic of electrical discharge machining is that the coolant is a dielectric fluid such as kerosene, transformer oil, distilled water or the like. The dielectric fluid is broken down in minute, localized areas by the action of the machining power pulses passed between the closely opposed surfaces of the tool electrode and workpiece. For control of the servo feed system, there is generally utilized an electrical signal fromthe ma- ,chining 'gap'in order to control the rate and thedi'rection of servo feed. In many cases this gap signal is compared to an adjustable reference voltage so that the operator can select the rate of servo feed desired for the particular operating condition.

It will thus be seen that with respect to the servo feed of the gap elements in electrical discharge machining a parameter of the gap, whether it be average gap voltage as shown and described in Williams US. Pat. No. 2,841,686 issued July 1, 1958, peak gap voltage as shown and described in Webb Reissue No. 25,542 issued Mar. 24, 1964, or as in any other EDM servo feed systems, there is required a reliable signal from the gap. The problem has been complicated by the fact that for certain electrode materials, such as graphite, the normal EDM gap polarity in which the tool electrode is negative and the workpiece positive must be reversed to provide for best machining results. Additional problems are encountered when the same power supply is used to feed several different machining gaps, that is where several electrodes are used to simultaneously cut several holes in the same workpiece, or, alternately, several electrodes are used to cut holes at the same time in different workpieces. As power supplies have come to have more power capability, lead lengths in order to handle the multiple gap systems have become longer and it has become continuously more difficult to provide for gap sensing and for those circuit connections which will be immune to noise in the electrical system and provide reliable voltage signals to control servo feed.

Other function control circuits are likewise dependent in their operation upon the magnitude of electrical signals derived from the machining gap, which signals again operate as an index to control, for example, interruption of power when a gap short circuit condition has occurred. The gap short circuit condition most often occurs due to a build-up of the eroded materials from both the electrode tool and workpiece across the machining gap. Unless this condition is rapidly alleviated, either by electrode back-up or by instantaneous interruption of power to the gap, serious damage can result to either or both the tool electrode and the workpiece.

' This problem has been solved by the prior art by the development of a number of gap short circuit protection systems such as that disclosed and claimed in Sennowitz U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,145 issued on Apr. 15, 1969 for EDM Power Supply Circuit. The need of a reliable sensing system responsive to gap voltage to control such a protection system is met by the system according to the present invention.

An additional problem arises from the failure of one or more of the electronic output switches, generally with their power conducting electrodes in a shorted condition. Power to the gap must be interrupted until the defective transistor can be located and replaced. The problem again is one of providing a reliable sensing circuit capable of responding to such a condition and providing an output signal to provide the necessary protection function control.

In some gap short circuit protection systems there is provided not a total interruption of the machining power but rather a control of the individual machining power pulses themselves such as by narrowing their on-time or increasing the off-time, or in some cases performing both these'functions together. An example of an on-off time control system for controlling pulse width is disclosed in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,969, a portion of whichpatent has been incorporated by reference into this application as an exemplary 3 embodiment of the invention.

By way of summary, it will be seen that the prior art protection system for electrical discharge machining apparatus have the common problem of providing a control signal whether it be from the machining gap itself or from an intermediate part of the power supply such as the electronic output switch, which signal represents an abnormal or malfunctioning condition and actuates a protection circuit to suitably respond either by way of interrupting the power to the gap, reducing the power to the gap, or initiating a servo feed back-up operation to protect the gap elements from possible damage.

It will be understood in the specification that when I refer to electronic switch I mean any electronic control device having three or more electrodes comprising at least two principal or power conducting electrodes acting to control current flow in the power circuit, the conductivity between the principal electrodes being controlled by a control electrode within the switch whereby the conductivity of the power circuit is controlled statically or electrically without movement of mechanical elements within the switch. Included within the definition are transistors in which turn-on is accomplished by a control voltage applied to the transistor control electrode and in which turn-off is accomplished automatically in response to removal of that control voltage. Also included in the definition are devices of the gate type in which tum-on is accomplished by a control voltage applied to the control electrode, which controlvoltage may be then removed and in which tum-off is accomplished by application of a subsequent control voltage to the control electrode. An additional class of electronic switches, called electronic trigger devices, falls within this definition and includes ignitrons, thyratrons, semi-conductor controlled rectifiers and the like. By electronic trigger device I mean any electronic switch of the type which is triggered on at its control electrode by a pulse and is turned off by reverse voltage applied for a sufficient time across its principal electrodes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Viewed in its broadest sense in light of the prior art just discussed, the present invention provides an improved sensing network particularly adaptable for use in an electrical discharge machining power supply in which the signal is both generated and transmitted to provide a protection function or a cut-off function of the power supply. The invention includes the use of light-emitting devices, such as light-emissive diodes, which provide an output signal responsive to the magnitude of current passing through the device. The output signal is then used to operate a light responsive device such as a phototransistor or a photo diode which in turn has a conductivity controllable according to the energy level of the light given off by the light-emitting device. The signal may be generated by light-emitting diodes, such as for example gallium phosphide diodes, or alternately in a different version of the present invention as will be illustrated, it is possible to use incandescent light bulb type devices connected with the gap to provide a light signal variable according to current being conducted through the device and then'available in turn to control the generation of an electrical control signal through an associated phototransistor. The advantages of such a system include the feature that no electrical connection directly between the light-emissive device and the photosensitive device is required. The relative polarities of the two devices make no difference in their operation. Also, the polarities with respect to the bulb type light-emissive device and the gap and the direction in which current is passed are of no importance so that with certain embodiments of the present invention is it possible to have changeover between either gap polarity and still maintain a fully operative gap condition sensing network. The lightemissive diodes have a response time which is fast enough to respond to high frequency machining power pulses being passed across the gap. In accordance with g the servo feed embodiments of the present invention, a large number of gaps can be handled at the same time for split or multiple lead machining operation. The present invention provides a substantially improved system for sensing gap condition which eliminates the requirement for high gain amplifiers and comparative level sensors, all of which have a common ground reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings in which like reference numerals have been used to designate like parts herein referred to throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a block diagrammatic drawing illustrating the present invention as it is embodied in an electrical discharge machining power supply with relationship to the machining gap;

FIG. 2 is a schematic partly in block diagrammatic form showing one embodiment of the present invention using a light-emitting diode;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing a multiple lead servo feed system for controlling the feed simultaneously of a plurality of tool electrodes;

FIG. 4 is a servo feed circuit substantially similar to that shown in connection with FIG. 3 but incorporating a different polarity type transistor switch;

FIG. 5A is a schematic showing of one embodiment of the present invention for use in conjunction with a servo feed system;

FIG. 5B is a schematic showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention for use in conjunction with a servo feed system;

FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic illustration of an EDM power supply in which the present invention is utilized to control a short circuit protection system to adjust machining power pulse on-off time duration;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of an EDM power supply showing a voltage sensing network according to the present invention used to control power interruption responsive to failure of one of the output electronic switches or transistors; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing a liquid crystal type alternate embodiment of a light-emitting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an electrical discharge machining power supply 10 having its output connected across a machining gap between a tool electrode 12 and a workpiece 14. A more detailed showing of the basic operating parts of an EDM power supply will be shown in FIG. 6 hereinafter. A light-emitting device 16, sometimes hereinafter referred to as an LED, may be embodied as light-emitting diodes or bidirectional light emission devices such as incandescent light bulbs. In any case, the light-emitting device used may be described as any device having a light energy output which is proportional to the input current density. Ordinarily, the light-emitting device is then used in the manner shown in FIG. 2 to control the conductivity of a light responsive switching means such as a phototransistor to provide an electrical output signal. It will be understood that in FIG. 1 the lightemitting device 16 is connected across the gap between terminals A and B, but alternately it may be connected in series with the gap between terminals A and D as shown.

FIG. 2 shows a light-emitting device embodied as a light-emitting diode 18 which may be connected in series with the machining gap, for example, in series with the tool electrode 12. A suitable current limiting resistor 20 is connected in series with the light-emitting diode 18. As indicated in the drawing, the light energy emitted by diode 18 is communicated to the base or control electrode of a phototransistor 22, which in turn provides an electrical control output signal through an intermediate amplifier stage 24 and thence to one or more of the function control circuits as will be further illustrated hereinafter. The phototransistor 22 has its collector coupled to a suitable B+ source and a load resistor 24 is connected. in'series with emitter of the phototransistor 22. It will be seen that the electrical output signals have a variable amplitude which may fluctuate as shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 2.

The FIG. 3 schematic shows a servo feed control system particularly useful in connection with multiple gap machining operation in which a plurality of outputs are passed through terminals in the manner indicated to control the servo feed motor, thus maintaining the proper gap spacing between the electrodes 12 and workpiece 14. The basic control circuit may be connected, for example, to one terminal of a control coil for a servo'valve control coil indicated by the numeral 28. The circuit of FIG. 3 is adapted for use with a system in which the electrode carrying ram is operated with an electro-hydraulic motor for the motive means. It will be seen that the circuit of FIG. 3 includes a plurality of input means. As has already been indicated, an incandescent light bulb may be substituted for the light-emitting diode 18, with the advantage that the polarity of the gap or its reversal has no effect on the light bulb operation as it relates to sensing current flow through the bulb. In the FIG. 3 circuit, the servo valve coil 30 has connected at its right end a reference voltage. The resistors 32, 34 with filter capacitor'36 and a series resistor 38 serve to provide a reference voltage against which the control input signals from a plurality of gaps are used to provide a single control signal. In the FIG. 3 circuit, LEDs are connected in series with each of three different gaps. The output signal from the first of such phototransistors 22 is provided through a series resistor 40 and diode 42 to the base of an associated PNP transistor 44. The PNP transistor 44 has a resistor 46 coupled across its base and emitter, while a source of B+ voltage is connected through a series current limiting resistor 48 to the emitter of the transistor 44. The circuit just referred to is duplicated in each of the other two networks and with identifying numerals being applied to each corresponding element as follows: In association with the C 1 tenninal, a series resistor 50, a signal diode 52, a transistor 54 and a resistor 56 are included. In the final lowermost branch associated with the C terminal, there arcincluded a series resistor 60, a diode 62, a transistor 64 and a resistor 66. It will be seen that the three transistors 44, 54 and 64 all have their collectors connected to a minus gap lead 68. The emitters of each of the aforesaid transistors are all connected to the base of a single control transistor of the NPN type. The transistor 70 has its collector connected to the B+ voltage source and a load resistor 72 is connected in series with its emitter. The emitter of the transistor 70 is also coupled to the left-hand terminal of the servo control coil 30. It will be seen that when the gap voltage level at any one of the three gaps being monitored drops to a sufficient level, there will be provided an increased output signal from its corresponding terminal C, C or C This will cause a correspondingly increased current flow from the transistor 70 to provide back-up through operation of the servo coil 30 and the electro-hydraulic motor to which it is connected. It will be understood that the control signal provided to the servo valve coil 30 is related to the excursions occurring in gap voltage.

The circuit of FIG. 4 is quite similar to the circuit of FIG. 3 except that the input signals from the several sensing networks at terminals C, C and C are of the opposite polarity so that the included diodes are shown in their reversed connection and the plurality of transistors incorporated in the control circuit are NPN transistors rather than PNP transistors. The control transistor 70 has been changed to a transistor of the PNP type. The circuit included in the C lead includes a series resistor 80, a diode 82, a NPN transistor 84 and a shunt resistor 86. A suitable magnitude B+ source is connected to the upper terminal of a resistor 87. In the C lead, there are connected a resistor 90, a diode 92 having its cathode connected to the base of an NPN transistor 94, and a resistor 96 connected across the base emitter junction. In the'C network, there are included a series resistor 100, a diode 102 having its cathode connected to the base of an NPN transistor 104, and a' resistor 106 connected across the base emitter junction of the transistor 104. The transistors 84, 94 and 104 are all connected in common emitter configuration and provide a control signal to the base of the control PNP transistor 108. The balance of the circuit, including the servo valve coil and reference voltage, are the same'as that shown in FIG. 3 and have been omitted in the interest of simplification. It will be seen that whenever the gap voltage drops to a level approaching gap short circuit, the LED associated'with that gap will experience a change in its output of light energy, which change is communicated to the associated phototransistor or photo diode to provide a control electrical signal through the several networks to terminals C, C and C to thus control the current flow through the servo coil 30 to provide back-up of the ram. It will be understood that in the case of multiple electrode operation, the several electrodes are generally insulated one from the other and mounted on a common ram. When a gap short circuit is experienced with respect to'one of the electrodes, all of them are then backed up to alleviate the short circuit condition. The response time of the LEDs is sufficiently rapid to respond to pulse by pulse changes in the machining power pulses being passed across the gap, and accordingly the response time of the servo system is sufficiently rapid to remove the electrodes from the workpiece before serious damage can occur. The circuit of FIG. 4 has additional advantages that may be used with sensing networks other than those incorporating LEDs. For example, the input at terminals C. C, and C may be derived from simple diode-capacitor sensing net- 7 works, in which case the input would be indicative of peak gap voltage level or, alternately, from a resistorcapacitor network, in which case the input would be representative of average gap voltage.

FIG. shows a servo control system in which the LED is embodied as an incandescent light bulb 110 connected in series combination with a resistor 112,

with the combination coupled across the machining gap between the electrode 12 and the workpiece 14. The light energy output from the bulb 110 is transmitted to the base of a phototransistor 114 to control its conductivity. The phototransistor 114 has a load resistor 116 connected in series with its emitter and an intermediate amplifier stage 118 is coupled between the emitter of the phototransistor 114 and a second transistor 120. Associated with the amplifier 118 are a null adjust potentiometer 122, a series signal resistor 124 and a variable resistor 126 for gain adjustment. A second amplifier stage 128 is connected to the output from the transistor 120. The signal from the emitter of the transistor 120 is passed through a signal resistor 131 and amplified to provide a control signal for a following push-pull stage incorporating a pair of transistors 130 and 132. The amplifier stage 128 has a resistor 134 connected to a selectively adjustable servo reference voltage provided by a potentiometer 136. A fixed magnitude series resistor 138 is connected between the slider of the potentiometer 136 and the minus input terminal of the amplifier 128. It will be seen that the transistors 130 and 132 are of NPN and PNP configuration, respectively, so that one or the other is rendered conductive according to the signal received at its base. The direction and magnitude of current flow through the servo control valve coil 30 is thus suitably regulated to provide an upfeed or downfeed of the electrode 12 in accordance with the level of gap voltage being sensed by LED bulb 1 10, and subsequently converted to an amplified electrical control signal by the circuit. A suitable gain adjust rheostat 140 is connected in the circuit as shown.

The circuit of FIG. 5B is essentially the same as that of FIG. 5A except for the inclusion of a light-emitting diode l8 in place of the light bulb 110 of FIG. 5A. In like manner to the circuit of FIG. 5A, there are included several intermediate amplification stages between the phototransistor 114 and the push-pull stage of transistors 130 and 132 so that the conduction of one or the other will control the direction of current flow through the servo control coil 30 and hence control the upfeed or downfeed of the electrode in accordance .with the changes occurring in gap voltage. The basic operating principle of the two circuits are based upon the fact that the impinging light energy is capable of releasing current carriers in the semi-conductor material of the phototransistor 114. Otherwise stated, the light energy provided by the LED, whether it be the diode 18 or the light bulb 110, will free current carriers, thereby reducing the resistance of the material.

FIG. 6 is a combined schematic and block diagrammatic drawing of an electrical discharge machining power supply in which the main DC machining power source 140 is shown connected in series with the power conducting or principal electrodes of a pair of parallel connected output transistors 212 and 212' and in series with the machining gap which includes the electrode 12 and the workpiece 14. It will be seen that the polarity of the gap is different from that previously illustrated in the other Figures of this application and the electrode is of the negative polarity as normally used with metallic type electrodes. The gap current level is selectively controlled by the magnitude of series resistors 217, 218 and 218'. A light-emitting diode 220 is between the electrode 12 and the output stage transistors 212 and 212 to provide a light output signal for the control of the electrical signal outputs of the associated phototransistor 221. The diode 220 is connected in series combination with a resistor 219 and the combination is connected across a resistor 219a. A resistor 222 is coupled to the emitter of the phototransistor 221. A terminal E serves as the gap voltage input terminal to a system for controlling short circuit on-time narrowing and off-time widening. Reference is made to my aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,969 for a full description of the circuit, its component and the mode of operation of the short circuit cut-off system indicated in block form in FIG. 6. The importance of that circuit in conjunction with the present invention is a new and improved system for sensing an electrical parameter of the gap and providing an electrical output signal for function control of the EDM power supply. A diode 223 is used to connect the transistors 212 and 212 to the positive terminal of the DC source to eliminate damaging high voltage spikes. A capacitor 224' provides decoupling to eliminate voltage drops due to lead inductance from the power source 140. A multivibrator stage 226 and several intermediate driver stages 228, 230 and 232 are used to turn the output stage transistors 212 and 212' on and off with precisely controllable frequency and pulse duty factor. The resistor 225 forms a DC ground for the driver transistor 232. In the interest of simplification and brevity, the driver stages 228 and 230 have been illustrated in block diagram form.

The multivibrator 226 includes transistor pairs 234, 234' and 236, 236'. Each transistor pair is biased and coupled for alternate switching operation in the astable multivibrator mode. The two respective transistor pairs are themselves compound-connected in the Darlington configuration and operate in effect as a single electronic switching unit to provide for the necessary current amplification. The transistors 234 and 236 are each connected through a pair of load resistors 238 and 240 to the negative terminal of a DC source 242. A bank of cross-coupling capacitors 244a through 244d and 246b through 246d are connected to the multivibrator transistor switches through the selective setting of switches 245 and 247, respectively. It will be seen that the switches 245 and 247 function to cross-couple the collectors of the two transistors 234, 236, each to the opposing transistor pair base, to control the frequency of the machining power pulses provided to the machining gap. The switches 245 and 247 are normally connected for ganged operation. A pair of fixed resistors 248 and 250 and a potentiometer 252 are included in the multivibrator circuit, with the machining pulse on-off time controlled by the setting of the movable contact of the potentiometer 252. A pair of blocking diodes 254, 256 are further connected in circuit with the movable contact of the potentiometer 252. Also included in the multivibrator 226 are a pair of control input networks which control the off-time widening of the multivibrator 226 through the transistor 234 or control the on-time reduction of the multivibrator 226 through the transistor 236. The first such input network includes the lead 257 and diodes 259 and 261 coupled as shown. The second such input network includes a lead 265 and a diode 267 which provide an input to control the on-off time of the multivibrator transistor 236. A shielded connectionof the two input leads is utilized. The pulse on-time is controlled in phase with the conduction of the transistors 236,236. The pulse off-time is controlled in phase with the conduction of the transistors 234, 234'. It will be noted that while the present invention and its several different embodiments utilize transistors as the electronic switches throughout the circuits, the invention is not so limited. Thus, with proper redesign of the circuit by those skilled in the art, any electronic switch in accordance with the definition previously supplied may be substituted.

The circuit of FIG. 6 will thus be seen to exemplify a circuit utilizing as a function control signal a signal derived from an LED. In the FIG. 6 circuit, a lightemitting diode is coupled in series with the machining gap and used with a pick-up phototransistor 221, which changes the light intensity signal 'into a proportionate electrical signal to control machining current being provided to the gap on an averaged pulse basis. Here again, the LED is used in the circuit to replace a standard sensing circuit which would include rather more complex networks, generally with electronic switches or diodes, which could be limited in their operation to an EDM circuit with one polarity of gap connection.

The circuit of FIG. 7 illustrates the use of a LED for a different function control with respect to an electrical discharge'machining power supply. The showing of the circuit of FIG. 7 is substantially similar to the circuit of FIG. 6 but somewhat abbreviated. The circuit of FIG. 7 shows a light-emitting diode 220 which is connected with one of the principal electrodes or power conducting electrodes of the output transistor 212. The output transistors .in any electrical discharge machining power supply are required to operate at very high frequencies and in some cases at relatively long on-times, which render their failure in a shortened condition possible. Should any of the output transistors 212 fail, there will be a surge of current to the electrode 12 and to the gap which may initiate a DC arcing or gap short circuit condition with damage to the gap elements and to other parts of the EDM power supply. For this reason, it is important to provide a sensing network with sufficiently rapid response time to sense the failure of the output transistor 212 and make a timely reduction in the power being furnished to the gap. In the FIG. 7 circuit, the LED 220 is operatively connected to the base of a phototransistor 221 in such manner as to control the output through its emitter and through a signal resistor 222 through an intermediate amplifier stage 223 and thence through the solenoid coil 225 which controls the opening and closing of a movable contact 227. The contact 227 is a normally closed contact to permit power to be connected to the gap between electrode 12 and workpiece 14, with the power being alternately connected and disconnected according to the controlled conduction of the output transistor 212. Upon failure of the transistor 212, a suitable actuating signal will be passed through solenoid coil 225 to pull the movable contact 227 open and thus interrupt the power to the gap to avoid damage to the elements. It will be understood that other commonly known disconnect devices or circuits may be used to reduce the power to the gap in the event of a failure of an output transistor 202. The circuit of FIG. 7 illustrates a still further function control for an EDM apparatus in which a light-emitting device is particularly useful to provide an output signal readily convert- 10 ible to a reliable electrical signal to protect the apparatus.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment for the light-emitting device in the form of a liquid crystal 300. A control signal such as from the machining gap is used to vary the light transmitting properties of the crystal 300. A continuous light source including bulb 302 and a DC source 304 is mounted at the right-hand side of the crystal 300.

It will thus be seen that by the present invention I have provided an improved sensing and protective system for detecting malfunctions within electrical discharge machining apparatus, which system is actuable with a rapid response time to prevent any accompanying damage either to the power supply itself or particularly to the gap elements during machining.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus for machining a conductive workpiece by passing machining power pulses from an electrode tool across a dielectric coolant-filled gap, a servo feed system for providing relative movement between said electrode tool and workpiece as material is removed, said servo feed system including reversible motive, means, an electrically energized element operably connected to said motive means for controlling its operation responsive to current flow through said element, means for providing a signal output for said element comprising a light-emitting device connected in series with said gap and effective to provide a light output signal of an energy level magnitude representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing, and a light responsive device operably linked to said light-emitting device for receiving and converting said light signal to an electrical signal for controlling said electrically energized element and said motive means.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode, said diode connected in series combination with a resistor, said combination coupled in series with the gap.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said light responsive device comprises a phototransistor, said phototransistor having its base excited by said light signal and having one of its power electrodes operatively connected to said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a fluid operated motor and wherein said electrically energized element comprises a servo valve control coil operably associated with said motor for controlling its operation.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises an incandescent type light bulb.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises a liquid crystal device.

7. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap set-up for providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feedsystem for controlling the operation of all of the individual electrodes comprising a common support for said electrodes, a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time, an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means responsive to current flow therethrough, a separate sensing lead connected in series with each of said gaps, each of said leads coupled to the control electrode of a different electronic switch, each of said switches having a corresponding principal electrode connected in common, each of said electronic switches further having corresponding principal electrodes coupled to the control electrode of a control electronic switch, said control electronic switch having its output operatively connected to and controlling current flow through said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the output of said control switch is coupled to one terminal of said electrically energized element and wherein a selectively adjustable reference voltage is connected to its other terminal.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said electronic switches comprise a PNP transistor having its respective input lead diode coupled to its base and wherein all of the emitters of said electronic control switches are coupled in common to thecontrol electrode of said control switch.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said motive means is of the fluid-operated type and wherein said electrically energized element comprises a servo valve control coil for controlling the movement of said motive means.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein a light-emitting device is operatively connected in series with each of said gaps for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing, and wherein said sensing leads each include a light responsive device for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal.

12. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap setup providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feed system for controlling the operation of all such electrodes comprising a common support for said electrodes; a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time; an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means responsive to current flow therethrough; a sensing circuit connected in series with each of the gaps, each such sensing circuit including a light emitting device for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing; a plurality of light responsive devices each operatively connected to and controlled by a different one of said light emitting devices for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal, the output of each of said light responsive devices coupled to the control electrode of a different electronic switch; each of said switches having a corresponding principal electrode connected in common; each of said electronic switches further having corresponding principal electrodes coupled to the control electrode of a control electronic switch, said control electronic switch having its output operatively connected to and controlling current flow through said element.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output of said control electronic switch is coupled to one terminal of said electrically energized element, and wherein a selectively adjustable reference voltage is connected to its other terminal.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device comprises an incandescent light bulb.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device includes a liquid crystal.

17. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap setup providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feed system for controlling the operation of all such electrodes comprising a common support for said electrodes; a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time; an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means; a sensing circuit connected in series with each of the gaps, each such sensing circuit including a light emitting device for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing; a plurality of light responsive devices each operatively connected to'and controlled by a different one of said light emitting devices for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal, the output of each of said light responsive devices coupled to a like terminal of said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.

18. The combination as set fortli in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device comprises an incandescent light bulb.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device includes a liquid crystal. 

1. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus for machining a conductive workpiece by passing machining power pulses from an electrode tool across a dielectric coolant-filled gap, a servo feed system for providing relative movement between said electrode tool and workpiece as material is removed, said servo feed system including reversible motive means, an electrically energized element operably connected to said motive means for controlling its operation responsive to current flow through said element, means for providing a signal output for said element comprising a light-emitting device connected in series with said gap and effective to provide A light output signal of an energy level magnitude representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing, and a light responsive device operably linked to said light-emitting device for receiving and converting said light signal to an electrical signal for controlling said electrically energized element and said motive means.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode, said diode connected in series combination with a resistor, said combination coupled in series with the gap.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said light responsive device comprises a phototransistor, said phototransistor having its base excited by said light signal and having one of its power electrodes operatively connected to said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a fluid operated motor and wherein said electrically energized element comprises a servo valve control coil operably associated with said motor for controlling its operation.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises an incandescent type light bulb.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light-emitting device comprises a liquid crystal device.
 7. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap set-up for providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feed system for controlling the operation of all of the individual electrodes comprising a common support for said electrodes, a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time, an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means responsive to current flow therethrough, a separate sensing lead connected in series with each of said gaps, each of said leads coupled to the control electrode of a different electronic switch, each of said switches having a corresponding principal electrode connected in common, each of said electronic switches further having corresponding principal electrodes coupled to the control electrode of a control electronic switch, said control electronic switch having its output operatively connected to and controlling current flow through said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.
 8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein the output of said control switch is coupled to one terminal of said electrically energized element and wherein a selectively adjustable reference voltage is connected to its other terminal.
 9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said electronic switches comprise a PNP transistor having its respective input lead diode coupled to its base and wherein all of the emitters of said electronic control switches are coupled in common to the control electrode of said control switch.
 10. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said motive means is of the fluid-operated type and wherein said electrically energized element comprises a servo valve control coil for controlling the movement of said motive means.
 11. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein a light-emitting device is operatively connected in series with each of said gaps for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing, and wherein said sensing leads each include a light responsive device for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal.
 12. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap setup providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feed system for controlling the operation of all such electrodes comprising a common suppOrt for said electrodes; a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time; an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means responsive to current flow therethrough; a sensing circuit connected in series with each of the gaps, each such sensing circuit including a light emitting device for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing; a plurality of light responsive devices each operatively connected to and controlled by a different one of said light emitting devices for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal, the output of each of said light responsive devices coupled to the control electrode of a different electronic switch; each of said switches having a corresponding principal electrode connected in common; each of said electronic switches further having corresponding principal electrodes coupled to the control electrode of a control electronic switch, said control electronic switch having its output operatively connected to and controlling current flow through said element.
 13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output of said control electronic switch is coupled to one terminal of said electrically energized element, and wherein a selectively adjustable reference voltage is connected to its other terminal.
 14. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device comprises an incandescent light bulb.
 15. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode.
 16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light emitting device includes a liquid crystal.
 17. In an electrical discharge machining apparatus having a multiple gap setup providing electrical discharge machining between a plurality of electrodes and at least one workpiece at the same time, a servo feed system for controlling the operation of all such electrodes comprising a common support for said electrodes; a reversible motive means connected to said support for advancing and retracting all the electrodes at the same time; an electrically energized element operatively connected to and controlling the operation of said motive means; a sensing circuit connected in series with each of the gaps, each such sensing circuit including a light emitting device for providing a light output signal representative of gap current level and hence of gap spacing; a plurality of light responsive devices each operatively connected to and controlled by a different one of said light emitting devices for changing said light signal into an electrical control signal, the output of each of said light responsive devices coupled to a like terminal of said electrically energized element for controlling the operation of said motive means.
 18. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device comprises an incandescent light bulb.
 19. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device comprises a light emitting diode.
 20. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said light emitting device includes a liquid crystal. 